Barbados - Song of Night

Book #14: Song of Night - Glenville Lovell

"So the heroine of this evocative novel introduces herself to the tourist-woman lying on the sands of Accra Beach to whom she hopes to sell the dresses she is peddling. It is an unplanned encounter, but Amanda, the African American tourist, is not in Barbados just for a vacation. Nor is Night the simple, easy-going island girl Amanda takes her for. This is a meeting that changes both their lives."

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I loved this book. It's a coming-of-age story mixed with Caribbean mysticism. Cyan, nicknamed "Night" because of her skin, has a turbulent relationship with her mother. That's a bit of an understatement. And her father has recently died - hung, because he murdered a man who flirted with his wife. She's a social outcast in her tiny village, but she's determined to figure out a life for herself. Except tragedy seems to follow her everywhere. I can't say much more without giving it away, and I absolutely don't want to do that. The twists and turns are the best part. 

Bangladesh - A Blonde Bengali Wife

Book # 13: A Blonde Bengali Wife - Anne Hamilton

"They all said that Bangladesh would be an experience... For Anne Hamilton, a three-month winter programme of travel and "cultural exchange" in a country where the English language, fair hair, and a rice allergy are all extremely rare was always going to be interesting, challenging, and frustrating. What they didn't tell Anne was that it would also be sunny, funny, and the start of a love affair with this unexplored area of Southeast Asia."

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This book doesn't fit the requirements of my challenge at all. The writer is Irish. It's a "travelogue" of her three month journey to Bangladesh. When I selected this book, I was skeptical. I really wanted to avoid an outsider's view of a country. But I looked and failed to find a book written by a Bangladeshi native that's been translated to English. And the reviews for this book are pretty good. 

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. There are unavoidable limitations - Hamilton is not a native, and she doesn't pretend to be. But she does try to present Bangladesh fairly. That is to say, it's not a book full of stereotypes. I found myself not exactly wanting to visit Bangladesh, but certainly wishing I could meet Munnu, the Bangladshi man who takes Anne under his wing and escorts her around the country, ensuring that she is always fed, always has transportation, and always has access to a toilet. Their friendship is funny, touching, and provides a really valuable lens through which to see the country. I also want to meet the Hoque family, who play host to Anne and her Australian travel partner, Christine. Hasina, the family matriarch, is warm, caring, and absolutely runs her traditional Muslim family - as is so often the case. 

I certainly learned a lot about Bangladesh. I'll miss the people I "met" in this book. 

The Kingdom of Bahrain - Yummah

Book #12: Yummah - Sarah A. Al Shafei 

Yummah is the story of Khadeeja, a woman who entered an arranged marriage at the age of 12. It appears to be the fictionalized story of the author's grandmother, and so is simultaneously both a good look inside life in Bahrain in the mid 20th century, and also a highly romanticized account. The author provides a good sense of the day-to-day, but glosses over the relationship between the child bride and her deeply flawed husband. Which makes sense, if that man is actually her grandfather. In addition to an interesting, if somewhat shallow, account of Khadeeja's rather tragic life, the book also shows the evolution of customs and life trajectories, particularly for the women of Bahrain. Where Khadeeja had no choices, a mother multiple times over by the age of 23, her granddaughter ends up attending Harvard. This progression, in the span of three generations, makes the book a worthwhile read.